Pen-protector for penholders.



No. 633,763. Patented Oct. I, I90l.

' J. A. HOLLAND.

P EN PROTECTOR FOB PENHOLDERS.

. (Application filed July 24, 1901.)

(No Model.)

; W abbozmqa UNITED STAT S PATENT Fries.

JOHN A. HOLLAND, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

PEN-PROTECTOR FOR PENHOLD ERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 683,763, dated October 1, 1901.

Application filed July 24, 1901. Serial No. 69,474. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. HOLLAND, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pen-ProtectorsforPenholders, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is a protector for pens which may be brought quickly to a position either to cover the pen-point or to uncover it for writing, which is not removed from the holder in said operation, and which does not increase the length of the holder nor render it necessary to slit it. This object is attained by the means described in the annexed specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure l is a side elevation of a fountainpen embodying my invention, showing the sleeve for protecting the pen-point retracted as for writing. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the sleeve-protector advanced to cover the pen-point. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the sleeve partly in section and partially advanced. Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal sectional detail view of the sliding-sleeve protector. Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of the same. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the penholder with the sleeve removed therefrom.

Referring to the parts, the front portion a of penholder A is of the same external diameter as the internal diameter of the sliding sleeve 13. The end portion a of the holder is made of the same diameter as the sleeve, thereby forming a shoulder a against which the sleeve abuts when in its retracted position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Sleeve B has formed upon its interior an inwardly-projecting annular lug b, the rest of the interior of the sleeve being of a uniform diameter, which is the same as that of portion a of the holder, which has two annular grooves a and a formed in it in a position such that when annular lug b of the sleeve is in the forward groove the forward end of the sleeve projects out beyond the end of pen-point O and that when said lug is in the latter groove the penpoint is left uncovered. To enable the sleeve to expand so that annular lug b may ride up over portion a of the tube out of the grooves in moving from the forward to the retracted position of the sleeve and snap into said grooves when those positions are reached, sleeve 13 .has a series of longitudinal slits b formed in it through said annular lug. To change the sleeve from one position to the other, it is necessary onlyto exert a slight push upon it in the direction in which it is desired to move it, giving it at the same time a slight rotation, when the annular lug will ride up out of the groove over the surface of the holder and snap into the other groove when the other position is reached. The degree of firmness with which the annular lug is held in the grooves depends upon the number and upon the length of the slits in the sleeve. The more of them or the longer they are made the easier it is to dislodge the lug from the grooves. In practice they are made of a number and a length such that any accidental pressure to which the sleeve is ordinarily liable to be subjected will not move the sleeve. It is found that a much lighter push when combined with a rotary motion will dislodge the lug than when a direct thrust is exerted, so that as accidental pressure is of the latter nature a degree of stiffness to the action of the sleeve may be given for direct thrusts without making it hard for one to effect the change in position.

It is seen that with this protector the length of the holder is not increased when the pen is in use, that the holder is left intact, so that it may be used in fountain-pens, and that the sleeve. is not removed from the holder in changing from one position to the other, and therefore not liable to become lost or broken in changing.

It is obvious that in place of a penholder the sleeve-protector might be applied to a lead-pencil to protect its point.

What I claim is- 1. The combination of a holder for a writ= ing instrument, having grooves encircling it and a sleeve thereon having an interior lug to seat in the grooves to -hold the sleeve at the desired point on the holder and a longitudinal slit in its periphery to allow it to expand in order that the lug may ride up out of a groove to change the position of the sleeve upon the holder, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination of a holder for a writis the same as that of the holder, and having an internal annular lug to seat in the grooves and longitudinal slits crossing the lug to allow the sleeve to expand and the lug to ride up out of the grooves to change the position of the sleeve upon the holder, substantially as shown and described.

JOHN A. HOLLAND.

WVitnesses:

JOHN HOLLAND, W. F. MURRAY. 

